Agencies respond to chemical spill in Lakeport

LAKEPORT -- Spilled chemicals on a block of 11th Street caused officials to divert traffic and tell people in nearby homes and businesses to stay inside late Thursday morning.

Evacuations did not take place, and the materials were safely cleaned within two hours, Lakeport Police Lt. Jason Ferguson said.

James Peter Govern, 60, of Lower Lake was driving a Ford Ranger towing a trailer westbound on 11th Street when, for unknown reasons, the trailer became unhitched and flipped over after striking a utility pole between Manzanita and Pool streets about 11:45 a.m., Ferguson said.

Approximately half a gallon of chlorine and half a gallon of muriatic acid spilled from containers in the trailer onto the roadway, Ferguson said. Some of the chemicals also leaked into the bed of the trailer.

People in homes and businesses on the block were told to stay inside, with nobody allowed in or out, Ferguson said. Officials were diverting traffic on 11th Street between North and Pool streets.

Representatives from Lakeport police, fire protection and public works as well as Lake County Environmental Health responded to the incident. The scene was cleared about 1:35 p.m.